In a history of Centerville's representative citizens mention should be made
of Barton A. Ogle, although thirty years have come and gone since he departed
this life. In an early period in the history of Centerville he figured as one of
its prominent and influential citizens and won a creditable position in business
circles. He was born in Indiana, December 10, 1835, and is a son of John and
Mary Ann (Johnson) Ogle, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, the father
being a representative of an old New England family, while the mother came of
German lineage. In 1831 they removed to Indiana, where the father followed the
miller's trade for about a quarter of a century. He then in 1856 came to Iowa
with his family, settling near Leon, Decatur county, where he remained for three
years and thence came to Appanoose county in 1860. Here he again followed his
trade but did not own the mill. Both he and his wife spent their last days in
Centerville.

Barton A. Ogle attended school in Indiana and came with his parents to Iowa
about the time he attained his majority. He remained for some time in Leon and
was married there in 1859. The following year he removed to Centerville, where
he worked in the mill with is father. However, about two years later he put
aside all business cares and personal considerations in order to aid his country
in the struggle to preserve the Union, enlisting in 1862 at Cincinnati, Iowa, as
a member of Company I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he
remained until the close of hostilities. He participated in a number of
important engagements leading up to the final victory which crowned the Union
arms and at the close of the war was honorably discharged.

With a most creditable military record Mr. Ogle returned to Appanoose county
and for three years thereafter worked in the mill at Relay. In 1869, however, he
was elected auditor of Appanoose county on the republican ticket and came to
Centerville. He discharged his duties so efficiently and capably during his
first term that he was reelected and retired from office at the end of the
second term as he had entered it - with the confidence and good-will of all
concerned. He then worked for his brother for a time in the livery business and
was afterward employed in a foundry. Later he accepted a position with the
Ireland Iron & Bridge Company in the interests of which he traveled up to
the time of his death on the 14th of July, 1882.

It was on the 1st of September, 1859, that Mr. Ogle was united in marriage to
Miss Minerva E. Arnold, a daughter of Moses and Jemima (Barnes) Arnold. The
father who was a native of Maryland, was of Irish descent and was a farmer by
occupation. the mother, who was born in Virginia, was of Dutch lineage. In 1855
they removed to Ohio and subsequently to Indiana, later settling on a farm near
Leon, Iowa, where they lived until 1875, when they went to Harrison county, this
state, spending their last days in Modale. the father, who was born in 1795,
passed away in 1884, while the mother, born in 1813, reached the age of eighty
years, dying in 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Ogle became the parents of nine children:
Charles W., a machinist by trade, now living in St. Louis, Missouri; Almeda May,
who died at the age of five years; Albert Francis, who died when thirty-nine
years of age; Wesley Harlan, who is raising chickens on a ranch four miles north
of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and who married Lulu Moore; John, who is engaged
in the jewelry business in Seattle, Washington; James, who is manager of the
Regal Laundry and who married Bertha McClure of Centerville, they now making
their home with his mother; George b., who married Grace Scott and is proprietor
of the Regal Laundry; Kate, who is the wife of Clarence Wyckoff, an attorney of
Centerville; and Bulah, at home. The daughters Kate and Bulah are members of the
Order of Eastern Star at Centerville.

Mr. Ogle was an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity and also
held membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Grand
Army post. His political support was always given to the republican party, for
he believed it to be the party of reform and progress and it was ever his
earnest desire to further through political measures the best interests of city,
state and country. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to
which his widow still belongs and his was an upright and well-spent life,
gaining for him the confidence and good-will of many. He sought at all times to
follow the golden rule, to speak highly, to deal justly and to promote the
social, intellectual and moral progress of the community in which he made his
home.

George B. Ogle is one of the young business men of Appanoose county, whose
enterprise has carried him forward to success. He is proprietor of a laundry
which he is capably conducting and there are other creditable chapters in his
life record, including service in the Spanish-American war. Centerville numbers
him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in this city February 4,
1875. His parents were Barton A. and Minerva E. (Arnold) Ogle, natives of
Indiana and Ohio respectively. The father was a miller by trade and came to
Centerville, Iowa, prior to the Civil war. Here he worked at his trade for some
time and later turned his attention to the foundry business, which he carried on
for several years. His fellow townsmen, recognizing and appreciating his worth
and ability in matters of citizenship, elected him to the office of county
auditor and gave indorsement of his first term's service in reelection, so that
he remained in the position for two terms. At the time of the Civil war,
however, he put aside all business and personal considerations, for he felt that
his first duty was to his country and enlisted as a member of Company I,
Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, with which he served until the close of the Civil
war. He continued to reside in Centerville until his death, which occurred in
February, 1882. His widow survives and has now reached the age of seventy-three
years.

George B. Ogle was reared and educated in Centerville and when his school
days were over he secured employment in a dry-goods store, being thus occupied
for ten years. That the fires of patriotism burned as brightly in his breast as
in his father's was indicated when the country again became involved in war, for
with the outbreak of hostilities between the United States ad Spain he enlisted
as a member of Company E, Fiftieth Iowa Infantry. Following the close of
hostilities he returned home and engaged in the laundry business, purchasing the
Coo Laundry, which he is now operating under the name of the Regal Steam
Laundry. He purchased this business in 1899 and has since conducted it with
excellent success. He also has a dry-cleaning department and both branches of
the undertaking are proving profitable, being carefully and systematically
managed by Mr. Ogle and his partner, N. V. Craig. Their patronage is growing
year by year and they use as the basis for their prosperity excellent work and
fair dealing. Mr. Ogle is also a stockholder in the Company E armory, two-story
building sixty by one hundred feet, which is now being erected. He is likewise a
stockholder in the Centerville Gypsum Company and in the Centerville Savings
Bank, and he is the owner of the building in which the laundry business is
conducted and also of a pleasant residence at No. 712 West Washington street.

On the 27th of September, 1901, Mr. Ogle was united in marriage to Miss Grace
Scott, a daughter of Mrs. Eugenia (Murphy) Scott Elliott. The father died when
Mrs. Ogle was very young and the mother has since married again and still makes
her home in Centerville. Mr. and Mrs. Ogle became the parents of three children:
George Lawrence, seven years of age; William Scott, aged four; and one, who died
in infancy.

Mr. Ogle belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken high rank,
being a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs also to the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, while his political faith
is indicated in the support which he gives at the polls to the republican party.
His religious views accord with the teachings of the Methodist church, of which
he has long been a member. His interests and activities are wide and varied and
his unfaltering enterprise has brought him to an enviable position in business
circles. There has been nothing spectacular in his life history, but the
substantial qualities of progressiveness, laudable ambition and unabating energy
have borne fruit and he has gained a place among the prominent and
representative residents of Centerville.